It's a solid opening for white, the scotch game. Black doing NxN leaves the main line and is a poor move for black since it gives white a big lead in development.
Better options for black there are nf6 or bc5
I start most games like this
Im glad you started this becuase i sometimes get scared i am doing something wrong
The main line is :
4...Nf6 5.Nc3 Bb4 6.Nxc6 Bxc6 7.Bd3 d5! 8.exd5 cxd5 9.0-0 0-0 10.Bg5 Be6 11.Qf3 Be7 12.Rae1 Rb8 13.Nd1 c5
and black is OK...
I think Beelz hit it on the head. The Scotch is a perfectly good opening, used occasionally by Kasparov. 4...Nxd4 is a terrible move, ceding any control of the center that black had, and getting rid of all his developed pieces. I checked various databases, and 4...Nxd4 was easily the worst scoring fourth move for black. chessgames.com
4...Nf6 was the old main line, but 4...Bc5 has become more popular. 4...Qh4 is also played, where chances are about the same, but draws are much less common.
TO
Black should not play Nxd4, as QxN afterwards is a slight development lead by white since his queen is developed. Unlike openings like the scandinavian, there are no moves which develop and threaten at the same time for black.
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